Traditional symbolism of the eagle, representing St. John, is here rendered in overlarge format with the image extending beyond the edges of the picture plane, speaking to the long-standing outreach ministries of the Parish. It is entirely hand-sewn from widely varying fabrics, using traditional liturgical colors; the banner is 5’ x 10’ in size, backed in cranberry cotton & tab-mounted. A coordina-ting processional banner was made soon after. 1979
Parochial Banner
St. John’s Parish
Waterbury, CT
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Choir-Room
Banners
These twelve banners are actually two coordinated sets, six depicting the major seasons of the Church Year, the other six quotations per-taining to music. They were created using machine sew-ing techniques from chintz
fabrics, each measuring 30” x 42”. They are hanging back-to-back on wooden rods mounted on the architectural ‘knees’ of the ceiling. 1988
“Fountain Fullness”
Banner
The Great ‘O’ Antiphons of Advent
A Liturgical Landscape
The ‘O’ texts have been set to music many times over the centuries, the most familiar of these being ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ containing the seven most frequently used. They date from the ninth century at least with some liturgical historians ascribing them to St. Gregory the Great in the sixth century. Before setting out on this visual journey, look at the bottom section of each panel. The Cosmos, the Great Beginning, the Mysterious Unknown, layered with earth, then with life (grass) underlies all that soars above.
O Sapientia (at the far left) Ecclesiasticus 24:3 (O Wisdom...)
O Adonai (at the far right) Exodus 3:2, Acts 7:30 (Adonai, Ruler of the House of Israel)
O Radix Jesse (second from left) Isaiah 11:1,10 (O Root of Jesse...)
O Clavis David (second from right) Isaiah 22:22 (O Key of David...)
O Oriens (third from left) Isaiah, 42:6 (O Rising Dawn...)
O Rex Gentium (third from right) Isaiah 45:8-13 (O King of Nations...)
O Emmanuel (center) Isaiah 33:22, 7:14 (Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver...)
These banners were assembled from a wide variety of fabrics and sewn together, both by machine and hand-sewing methods. They each measure 4 x 8 feet. When mounted, the tallest is 11 feet above the floor. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, VT - 2003
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“He is Risen”
Banners
Window-Banners, Easter 2006.
These large (4’ x 8’) windows were ‘crying out’ to be filled with a statement celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord. Made entirely of transparent or translucent fabrics in tints of white and yellow, these images represent the blinding truth of the Risen Christ. Evidence of the
Creation joyfully intrudes through the scene, the intensity of which changes as the viewer walks from one area of the nave to another.
Nylon and other synthetic fabrics were fused onto nearly transparent fabric. Black lines were added using sharpie permanent marker to better define the areas. Calligraphic lettering is, made from dichroic-like fabric. The panels are mounted on tension rods at top and bottom.
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175th Anniversary Banner
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Burlington, VT
For use in various ceremonies celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Vermont Diocese, each parish was asked to create a banner, including the founding date of that community. St. Paul’s is represented here using an image of the current church, built in 1973. Also in the composition is a ‘visage’ of the original 1832 building. Finally, the lettering in the upper right implies a forward-looking future for St. Paul’s. The back of the banner, always visible in procession, has the Shield of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Made of a variety of materials, fused construction and tab-mounted, the banner is 24”x 36”. 2007
“Cornflakes” Banner
Created as one of a series of “Stewardship Banners”, this rather unique appeal to stew-ardship ‘attitude’ uses free, brush-like lettering in two distinct weights to portray the two aspects of the message. The background is of painted stripes on cotton, the lettering being made of white ‘duck’-weight fabric, fused to the surface. The whole is lined with batting between, allowing for gentle curves and swirls of the machine quilting. Author of the quote is unknown. The banner is 72” x 29” plus tabs and rod. 2007
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“Magdalene”
Banner
I have always found the story of Mary Magdalene fascinating so wanted to portray her as completely as possible - therefore the exaggerated, sensuous hair, the contemplative face with a single tear and the magnificent jar. Strong, spiritual women are worthy of extensive study, for their faith speaks to them in unique ways and leads them on remarkable journeys. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last from this amazing witness.
This is the first in a series of ‘Holy Personages’ banners I am en-visioning. While I love working in fabrics, I intend to use a variety of media, depending on the re-quirements of the commission.
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“Uzziah’s Dream” Banner
The program cover to the right was done for an ordination many years ago. It was so ‘in your face’ that the Ordinand didn’t really like it. Hmmmm...
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Miscellaneous Processional Banners
These banners, created in 1971, were pulled out of ‘storage’ for the 275th Anniversary Cele-bration of St. John’s Parish, Waterbury, CT in 2008. They are made of glued felt, yarn, something shiny (?) and are about 24” x 60”. They were the first banners made by Judith (Fisher) McManis after attending a banner workshop lead by Norman La Liberti.
275th Anniversary
Banner
St. John’s Parish
Waterbury, CT 2008
Created from ‘quilter cottons’, this banner celebrates the ministries of this great historic parish: Outreach, Forma-tion, Stewardship, Pastoral Care, Music & Liturgy, Hispanic Ministry. All fabrics were fused onto a sewn-construction backing. Pole mounted. 30” x 65”
“Witnessing the Resurrection”
Interactive Wall Hanging/Banner
The Resurrection would be unknown to us without the stories and those who related them. The initial sense of this work is confusion, much as it must have been on that first Easter morn. There is sunrise as the stars fade out in the on-coming brilliance, but it seems to tell us nothing of the Event, the only obvious message being found in the title. The viewer must participate, must travel, must recall or must investigate to find out what stories are hinted at. Walk to the left a few steps and see who may be speaking or what event might appear. Walk to the right and do the same. In total, there are fourteen stories - fourteen 'Stations of the Resurrection.'
The Empty Tomb, Appearance to Mary, Resurrection Denied,
Supper at Emmaus, Shore Appearance, Appearance on Mount,
Ascension
Angel Speaks to Women, Noli me tangere, Road to Emmaus, Doubting of Thomas, Questions to Peter, Revelation to Paul, Pentecost.
This piece is 39” high by 8’ long, made from ‘dumpster-dive’ cardboard which has been layered with matboard panels, lettering and tissue collage. 2008
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Ubuntu Reredos, a series of constantly-changing images appearing behind the altar for General Convention in Anaheim, California in July.
Both projects are made largely from silks, some textured, quilted or otherwise decoratively sewn; ‘add-ons’ include beads, shells and star-sequins!
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“The Spirit of Advent”
St. Paul’s School, Concord, NH - 2008*
The design is based on the four candles of the Advent Wreath, marking each Sunday in this season. While that observance is meaningful, it is only a preparation for the Main Event - the Nativity of of Our Lord. To try to ‘make visible’ the energy and anticipation of Advent, I chose to illustrate the Spirit-of-the-Time by having the smoke from the candles swirl and dance in joyous anticipation of the event to come. Thus, the vast majority of the design is taken up with Spirit-work, not our work of lighting candles.
The fabric banner above (actually sized as a pulpit-fall: 24” x 32”) is of fused and sewn construction in silks with one metallic. It is part of a proposed set of Vestments/Paraments for the English Gothic Chapel at St. Paul’s School, the remaining pieces to be completed at a future date. *The ‘banner’ was completed for entry into an ECVA on-line show in 2008. The images below are the proposed pieces for SPS.
“Covenant”
Two related projects: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Burlington, VT 2009
A more-detailed account of Stan’s Stole can be found by going to the ‘Stoles’ section.
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Fabrics of many kinds, including silks, quilting cottons, transparent/translucent nylon, with a finish of metallic gold letters, provide a suitably rich cosmic stage.
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“For the Splendor
of Creation”
The starry Cosmos, wind and dancing clouds, a rainbow with rain - all made to nurture the earth in with its many crops (animals to follow, surely...)
Hymn-Banners
mounted in the Great Chapel of St. Paul’s School, Concord, NH
“Love Divine”
The fire of love as well as the descent of the dove enrich the imagery in both the hymn-text and this image.
“Earth & All Stars” The earth-from-space is centered in a swirl of stars formed within a giant spiral.
Integrity-VT Parade Banner
Created for Pride Week, 2010. Also used as a table-front for various events where Integrity wishes to be a ‘presence’ for those in attendance. Printed commercially on vinyl.
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Parish
Anniversary
Banner
Based on photographs and
a wonderful, impressionist
painting of this splendid church, designed by Bishop John Henry Hopkins, the 200th Anniversary was celebrated with a new banner.